Chicago shortlists three casino candidates

Bally’s Tribune, Hard Rock Chicago and Rush Street Gaming’s Rivers 78 advanced to the next round of the bidding process for a Chicago casino licence.

The successful casino is expected to generate more than $400m in annual gaming revenue, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

The bidders will hold public consultations in April, and a winner will be announced after that. 

The formal development process will begin following City Council and Illinois Gaming Board Approval.

The proposed projects include Bally’s Tribune – a $1.74bn casino located at the Tribune Publishing Plant including 3,400 slots, 173 table games, a 500-room hotel and 3,000-seat theater. The company would open a temporary casino in the second quarter next year with the permanent location to open in the first quarter of 2026.

The Hard Rock Chicago proposal is for a $1.74bn casino north of McCormick Place convention center, offering 3,000 slots, 166 table games, a 500-room hotel and 3,500-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue. A temporary casino would open in the second quarter next year and the permanent one would open in the third quarter 2025.

The Rivers 78 plan is for a $1.62bn casino at development site The 78 on the south side of the city. The casino would include 2,600 slots, 190 table games, a 300-room hotel and a multi-purpose riverfront venue for entertainment and community programs. Rush Street would open a temporary casino in the second quarter of 2024 and the permanent casino would open in the fourth quarter of 2025.